All-Ireland collections raised €45,000

GAELIC GAMES:BELCOO O'RAHILLY'S GAA club raised over €45,000 for the Mark McGovern support fund from collections outside and inside Croke Park before the All-Ireland football and hurling finals.

The money is going directly to 23-year-old Fermanagh footballer who is recuperating from a severe head injury sustained during a match in San Francisco on June 25th. Croke Park’s decision to allow 50 collectors for the hurling final and 75 for the football was a departure from normal protocol.

“It was probably the first time it has ever been done but it was greatly appreciated by Belcoo and Mark’s family,” said Fermanagh PRO Deirdre Donnelly.

“The GAA allowed us to bring an extra 25 collectors down for the football final and by also having them inside the turnstiles we collected an even greater amount,” said Belcoo PRO Paul McGrath. “The Croke Park staff were extremely helpful on both days.”

€14,000 was collected at the All-Ireland hurling final and €30,600 at the football with another £2,000 sterling taken over both days.

McGovern spent five weeks in a coma in San Francisco general hospital after being struck off the ball while playing for the Ulster club against Celtics club on Treasure Island. He has since come through a liver complaint, the MRSA super bug and a bout of pneumonia. He recently began walking again, ahead of schedule, and has regained his speech.

Patrick Power, 26, of the Celtic’s club, was subsequently arrested by the San Francisco police but later released. He received a 96-week suspension from the local GAA disciplinary body.

The medical bills for McGovern and his rehabilitation are in excess of €800,000. He is unable to fly so an eventual return from California may have to be via land and sea.

Belcoo have organised a charity match against Liverpool’s John Moores University, where McGovern attended, at Brewster Park, Enniskillen on Saturday, October 15th at 6pm. Donations to the fund can be made online at: https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/markmcgovernsupportfund